הָלֹ֡ךְ וְקָֽרָאתָ֩ אֶת־הַדְּבָרִ֨ים הָאֵ֜לֶּה צָפֹ֗ונָה וְ֠אָמַרְתָּ שׁ֣וּבָה מְשֻׁבָ֤ה יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ נְאֻם־יְהוָ֔ה לֹֽוא־אַפִּ֥יל פָּנַ֖י בָּכֶ֑ם כִּֽי־חָסִ֤יד אֲנִי֙ נְאֻם־יְהוָ֔ה לֹ֥א אֶטֹּ֖ור לְעֹולָֽם׃
Go and proclaim these words northward, and say, “Return, backsliding Yisraʾel,” declares YHWH, ‘I will not cause My face to fall upon you, for I am loyal,’ declares YHWH; ‘I will not bear grudge forever.
Morphology
- הָלֹ֡ךְ (halokh) – Root: הלך (halakh); Form: Infinitive absolute; Translation: “Go”; Notes: Used emphatically to command decisive action.
- וְקָֽרָאתָ֩ (ve-qarata) – Root: קרא (qara); Form: Qal perfect 2nd person masculine singular with conjunction; Translation: “and proclaim”; Notes: Directs the prophet to speak aloud a message.
- אֶת־הַדְּבָרִ֨ים (et-ha-devarim) – Root: דבר (davar); Form: Accusative marker + definite plural masculine noun; Translation: “the words”; Notes: Refers to the prophetic message.
- הָאֵ֜לֶּה (ha-elleh) – Root: אלה (elleh); Form: Demonstrative pronoun masculine plural; Translation: “these”; Notes: Refers back to YHWH’s words being delivered.
- צָפֹ֗ונָה (tsafonah) – Root: צפון (tsafon); Form: Directional adverb; Translation: “northward”; Notes: Directed toward Yisraʾel, the northern kingdom.
- וְאָמַרְתָּ (ve-amarta) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal perfect 2nd person masculine singular with conjunction; Translation: “and say”; Notes: Introduces the content of the proclamation.
- שׁוּבָה (shuvah) – Root: שׁוב (shuv); Form: Qal imperative feminine singular; Translation: “Return”; Notes: Addressed to Yisraʾel, personified in the feminine.
- מְשֻׁבָ֤ה (meshubah) – Root: שׁוב (shuv); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “backsliding”; Notes: Describes the unfaithful state of Yisraʾel.
- יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisraʾel) – Root: ישראל (Yisraʾel); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “Yisraʾel”; Notes: The northern kingdom, addressed by YHWH.
- נְאֻם־יְהוָה (neʾum-YHWH) – Root: נאם (naʾam); Form: Noun construct + proper name; Translation: “utterance of YHWH”; Notes: Prophetic formula indicating divine authority.
- לֹֽוא־אַפִּ֥יל (lo-appil) – Root: נפל (nafal); Form: Hifil imperfect 1st person singular with negative particle; Translation: “I will not cause to fall”; Notes: Idiomatically refers to turning an angry face or punishing presence.
- פָּנַ֖י (panai) – Root: פנים (panim); Form: Plural noun with 1st person singular suffix; Translation: “My face”; Notes: Sign of favor or disfavor; here, restrained wrath.
- בָּכֶ֑ם (bakhem) – Root: אתם (ʾatem); Form: Preposition + 2nd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “upon you”; Notes: Direct object of divine action.
- כִּֽי־חָסִ֤יד (ki-ḥasid) – Root: חסד (ḥesed); Form: Conjunction + adjective masculine singular; Translation: “for I am loyal” / “merciful”; Notes: Emphasizes YHWH’s covenant faithfulness.
- אֲנִי (ani) – Root: —; Form: Independent pronoun; Translation: “I”; Notes: Reaffirms the divine speaker.
- נְאֻם־יְהוָה (neʾum-YHWH) – Root: נאם (naʾam); Form: Noun construct + proper noun; Translation: “utterance of YHWH”; Notes: Second use in verse—prophetic reinforcement.
- לֹ֥א אֶטֹּ֖ור (lo ettor) – Root: נטר (natar); Form: Qal imperfect 1st person singular with negative; Translation: “I will not keep watch” / “bear a grudge”; Notes: Indicates YHWH’s willingness to forgive.
- לְעֹולָֽם (le-ʿolam) – Root: עולם (ʿolam); Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular; Translation: “forever”; Notes: Time-bound limitation on divine wrath.